Kitabı oku: «Скотный двор / Animal Farm», sayfa 10
Snowball made a close study of some magazines of the ‘Farmer and Stockbreeder’ which he found in the farmhouse, and was full of plans for innovations and improvements. He talked learnedly about field drains, silage, and basic slag, and worked out a complicated scheme for all
the animals to drop their dung directly in the fields, at a different spot every day, to save the labour of cartage. Napoleon said quietly that Snowball was doing nothing useful, and just wasting his time. But then the problem of the windmill came.
In the long pasture, not far from the farm buildings, there was a small knoll which was the highest point on the farm. Snowball declared that this was just the place for a windmill, which could operate a dynamo and supply the farm with electrical power. This will light the stalls and warm them in winter, and will also run a circular saw, achaff-cutter22, a mangel-slicer23, and an electric milking machine24. The animals listened in astonishment while Snowball was talking about these fantastic machines
The mechanical details came mostly from three books which belonged to Mr. Jones: ‘One Thousand Useful Things to Do About the House’, ‘Every Man His Own Bricklayer’, and ‘Electricity for Beginners’. Snowball was working in a shed which had had a smooth wooden floor. With a piece of chalk gripped between the knuckles of his trotter, he was moving rapidly to and fro, drawing and reading, line after line, uttering little whimpers of excitement. The other animals came to look at Snowball’s drawings at least once a day. Even the hens and ducks came. Only Napoleon was indifferent. He talked against the windmill. One day, however, he arrived unexpectedly to examine the plans. He walked round the shed, looked closely at every detail of the plans and snuffed at them once or twice; then suddenly he lifted his leg, urinated over the plans, and walked out.
The whole farm was divided on the subject of the windmill. Snowball did not deny that to build it would be a difficult business. They must carry stones and make the sails. Then they will need dynamos and cables: how to get them, Snowball did not say. But he promised to build the windmill in a year. And thereafter, he declared, the animals would work three days a week. Napoleon, on the other hand, argued that the great need of the moment was to increase food production. If the animals waste time on the windmill they will all starve to death.
The animals formed themselves into two factions under the slogan, «Vote for Snowball and the three-day week» and «Vote for Napoleon and the full manger». Benjamin was the only animal who did not side with either faction. He did not believe anybody. Windmill or no windmill, life will go on, badly.
Apart from the disputes over the windmill, there was the question of the defence of the farm. The human beings can make another and more determined attempt to recapture the farm and reinstate Mr. Jones. The news of their defeat made the animals on the neighbouring farms more restive than ever. As usual, Snowball and Napoleon were in disagreement. According to Napoleon, what the animals must do was to procure firearms. According to Snowball, they must send out more and more pigeons and stir up rebellion among the animals on the other farms. The animals listened first to Napoleon, then to Snowball, and could not say which was right. Indeed, they always liked the one who was speaking at the moment.
At last the day came when Snowball’s plans were completed. At the Meeting on the following Sunday the question of whether or not to begin work on the windmill was put to the vote. When the animals assembled in the big barn, Snowball stood up and advocated the building of the windmill.
Then Napoleon stood up to reply. He said very quietly that the windmill was nonsense and that he advised nobody to vote for it, and promptly sat down again. At this Snowball sprang to his feet, and in a moment Snowball’s eloquence carried the animals away. He painted a wonderful picture of the future Animal Farm. His imagination ran far beyond chaff-cutters and turnip-slicers. Electricity, he said, could operate threshing machines, ploughs, harrows, rollers, and reapers and binders, and supply every stall with its own electric light, hot and cold water, and an electric heater. There is no doubt as to which way the vote will go now. But just at this moment
Napoleon stood up and uttered a strange high-pitched whimper.
Nine enormous dogs came into the barn. They dashed straight for Snowball, who sprang from his place just in time to escape their jaws. In a moment he was out of the door and they were after him. Too amazed and frightened to speak, all the animals crowded through the door. Snowball was racing across the long pasture that led to the road. Then he slipped through a hole in the hedge and ran away.
Silent and terrified, the animals crept back into the barn. In a moment the dogs came back. Where did these creatures come from? They were the puppies whom Napoleon had taken away from their mothers and reared privately. They were huge dogs, and as fierce as wolves. They kept close to Napoleon and wagged their tails to him.
